Tetra Vaal

March 28, 2014
Animation
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I’ve been keeping a close eye on Neill Blomkamp and I’ve only just found this four year old short made back in 2010. Mimicking a corporate promotional film, it shows the ‘future in law enforcement’ on the streets of a South African city. The flawlessly executed CGI we were wowed by in ‘Distict 9’ (and to a lesser extent in ‘Elysium’) is right here – the future is here, unassuming and integrated. It’s a little terrifying, very political and really cool.

Similar to ‘Alive in Joburg’, it’s also slated for a full-feature length adaptation as Chappie in early 2015.

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

Released: 2010

Second a Day – Save the Children

March 24, 2014
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I won’t be the first to post this, but I don’t mind; this glorious and innovative piece of film-making both drives home the core message, that this is war and your secure existence is not exempt, and also delivers a powerful narrative that paints a chronological deterioration of a young child in single second flashes.

Released: 2013

Directed by Martin Stirling

Let’s Play Nomad X

March 17, 2014
Drama
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8 bit graphics from a made-up video game ‘Nomad X’ (a take on the classic ‘Frontier Elite’) are the vehicle by which we learn about the narrators break-up. Cleverly done by using a ‘Let’s Play’ format synonymous with YouTube shows that curiously give you the opportunity to watch someone else play a video game, the action changes to match the events described. Charming and sad, but strangely hopeful.

Directed by: Kristian Andrews

Junkyard

February 14, 2014
Animation
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Using mixed media, including oil, two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, this melancholy story is woven from the story of two boys, drawn to different paths, violently re-connected. Its bleak tones reminded me of The Snowman by Briggs, and contained a timeless noir akin to Program, directed by Kawajiri from the Animatrix series. The fourth film by Hisko Hulsing, I’ll be following his work closely.

 

Written and Directed by Hisko Hulsing

Released: 2014

“A Handy Tip For the Easily Distracted”

February 3, 2014
Performance
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A rich and whimsically shot piece with a humorous message for the procrastinator. My eye was drawn especially to the coloring, the extremely serious expression on Ms. July’s face and little details such as the curled meniscus of cranberry juice over the egg-shell frock.

Miranda July’s website is worth the visit too to see other examples of her film, performance and other artistic expressions.

By: Miranda July